Muaro Jambi Temple : Biggest Temple Area

Muaro Jambi Village Muaro Sebo District is place of Muaro Jambi temple, located 2 km northeast of Jambi, or 20 minutes by car from the Jambi city. This area contained Astano Temple, Tinggi Temple, Gumpung Temple, Kembar Batu Temple, Gedong Temple, Kedato Temple and Koto Mahligai Temple. In pattern of the architect, the building is the Buddhist culture in IV and V Century. One of the statues in the temple Gumpung findings show that many characteristics in common with Prajnaparamita statue of Singosari Age.

Gedong is a unique temple in the complex area Muaro Jambi. Not known exactly when this temple was built. Spacious yard around 500an square meters, consists of the main building and the gate. The shape is very different from the temple generally in Java. The temple was made of natural stone, but of brick. At each of red brick, there are sculptured reliefs. Some of these bricks are stored in museums.

Until the beginning of the 21st century, the temple site to Muaro Jambi has identified approximately 110 buildings of the temple which consists of approximately 39 groups of temples. The temple building is relic Malay kingdom until Sriwijaya Kingdom, a Buddhist Malay cultural backgrounds. It is estimated that the temples location of historical sites Muaro jambi temples began to be built since the fourth century, one among the group of temples is Gumpung Temple.

Extensive temple site Muaro Jambi is 12 square kilometers, an area of ​​Buddhist worship in the days of the kingdom of Srivijaya. First discovered by a British soldier named SC Crooke in 1820, when assigned to map Batanghari River.

In the temple complex found many artifacts are priceless. Now the goods are kept in Jambi museum. For example there are statues of elephants lions, also statues Dwarapala. Dwarapala statue, discovered in the Gedong Temple. Accidentally discovered in 2002 when restoration the gate. The first function as gatekeepers, or security guard in the modern life. One statue is a statue named Prajnaparamita, the goddess of fertility symbol. Unfortunately, some parts of this statue yet discovered such as the hands and head. This is a sacred symbol of Buddhism.

In the museum is also stored pot of bronze weighing 160 kilograms, 60 centimeters tall, with pot holes diameter of about one meter. Pot is suspected as one tool flow Tantrayana Buddhist rituals.